Wellness “Thriving” Routine!

1) EAT BETTER! Especially more fruits and vegetables. Medical science reminds us almost every day that good nutrition and good health go hand in hand, especially when it comes to the healthful benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. Researchers continue to find nutritional elements in fruits and vegetables – vitamins and other antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber – that support our immune system, improve cardiovascular wellness, delay aging, and contribute to health and longevity in other ways. The thousands of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together in ways that science is just beginning to explore. Health Authorities recommend that adults eat at least 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables DAILY. Only 11% of American adults eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. We need to eat better. A sad fact – 1/3 of Americans get almost 1/2 of their calories from junk food! I am taking JuicePlus+ capsules, providing me a whole food based nutrition rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and other phytonutrients. This is not a vitamin. The Orchard Blend contains juice powders from 7 different fruits and the Garden Blend contains 10 different vegetables juice powders and grains. In addition, there is also the Vineyard Blend – offering whole berry based nutrition from 9 different berries and fibers, along with grape seed, green tea, ginger root, artichoke, L-arginine, L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10. For me, this is a no brainer! I take 2 capsules a day from each blend (6 capsules in total) helping me bridge the gap between what I should eat and do eat – every day. I’m a big fan of juicing fruits and vegetables, however on a daily basis juicing can be a chore. So, JuicePlus is ideal in todays busy lifestyle. JuicePlus, in my opinion, was instrumental in providing me the nutrients I needed during my cancer treatment recovery, when it was difficult to eat.

2) ADD SOME DAILY EXERCISE TO YOUR LIFE! Need help losing that excess weight? Exercise. Want to increase your energy level while reducing your stress level? Exercise. Want to maintain or increase your flexibility and improve your cardiovascular health? Exercise. The impact that exercise has on both your physical and mental well-being is tremendous. During my cancer treatments, I made it a daily routine to do some form of exercise, even if it was just being able to muster a few push-ups on the floor of my bedroom! We get all these benefits from exercising, yet only 31% of Americans exercise regularly, and 40% of us don’t exercise at all. One of the major reasons is TIME. The good news is that exercise doesn’t have to take a lot of time. 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is all it takes to promote and maintain good health. One of the easiest forms of exercising is walking, which I love to do myself, preferably out in the wonderment of nature. The key is a regular exercise habit, something you enjoy doing (or at least don’t mind doing!) – and will keep doing – month in and month out. Research shows that regular workouts lift depression, banish stress and sharpen the mind.

3) DRINK A LOT OF WATER EVERY DAY! One easy way to improve your health is to drink plenty of water: at least 8-ounce glasses a day, even more when it’s dang hot like today where I’m typing this in Chicago! Water is essential to good health because it is necessary to such important body functions as transporting nutrients, regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, cushioning organs, and eliminating waste. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. For me, while still recovering from my saliva glands being knocked out by radiation treatment, water is absolutely essential 24/7.

4) REDUCE YOUR STRESS LEVEL! Stress affects your health, too, yet coping with day-to-day stress can be very challenging. Stress is a mental and physical state resulting from the perception that the demands on you are greater than your ability to meet them. Improving your diet and regular exercise can help you better manage stress. Getting enough rest and relaxation is also very important. Be sure to set some quality time for yourself every day. I love practicing daily Reiki, a healing touch that I do myself. I also enjoy and practice Yoga a couple times a week. Did you know that 75 to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints or disease? Enough already!

5) THE KEY TO “THRIVING” IS FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE! Obviously, the more positive changes you make in your life and the more quickly you make them, the faster you’ll improve your overall health, wellness and cancer treatment recovery. On the other hand, only those things that you stick with are going to really help you THRIVE in the long run. Make the commitment, and just DO IT consistently. If you have any questions, please send me a comment. I would love to hear from you!

For more information on JuicePlus+, Reiki ,Yoga and Northwestern Hospital’s holistic approach to cancer treatment, please click on the link in “My Favorite Things.”